Bruno Ecuele Manga’s 18th minute goal saw Cardiff City to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at the Cardiff City Stadium. The defender nodded home Peter Whittingham’s corner at the near post with Town rarely seriously threatening to find a reply.

Daryl Murphy, Cole Skuse and Luke Hyam returned to the Town side with Brett Pitman and Jonathan Douglas dropping to the bench, while Kevin Foley, who was suffering with bruised ribs after the Bolton game, wasn’t in the 18.

Michael Crowe, who was called back from his loan spell at Braintree earlier in the week, was also amongst the subs with second-choice keeper Dean Gerken unwell.

Cardiff were without their first-choice keeper David Marshall due to a virus and Simon Moore started in his place. Former Blues academy schoolboy Stuart O’Keefe was named in the Bluebirds’ midfield.

The Blues started with Murphy and Sears as a front two with Kevin Bru and Ben Pringle in narrow roles on the right and left respectively of a four-man midfield.

Town were again in their orange third kit, while keeper Bartosz Bialkowski was asked by the referee to change from his green shirt to a yellow one before kick-off - leaving him in the unfortunate combination of a yellow shirt and green shorts - with Cardiff stand-in keeper Moore also wearing green.

Sears struck the game’s first shot in the fifth minute after he battled for a Murphy flick-on. Moore blocked the strike not overly confidently but claimed the loose ball.

On eight Skuse blocked from O’Keefe on the edge of the box but it was the Blues who had made the better start to the game.

There was a scare for Cardiff keeper Moore in the 16th minute when he failed to hold on to Pringle’s corner from the left. The ball was stabbed out to Bru but the Mauritius international was unable to get to it and committed a foul as he looked to do so.

Two minutes later the home side went in front via their first significant attempt of the game.

Whittingham sent over a corner from the left and the unmarked Manga met it at the near post and directed his header past Bialkowski.

After the goal the game returned to its previous pattern of the Blues taking the game to Cardiff. On 23 Christophe Berra headed Pringle’s right-sided corner wide at the far post when the Scotland international clearly thought he might have hit the target.

Soon after, Cardiff had a spell of pressure after Town were unable to clear from a corner, but Murphy then won a flag-kick at the other end, which was returned to Pringle, who sent over a dangerous cross just beyond his team-mates in the area.

Following a spell of Town possession on the right, Murphy headed a Luke Chambers cross wide in the 35th minute.

A minute later, Whittingham whipped in a dangerous freekick from deep on the left which Murphy just managed to divert away from Matthew Connolly in space behind him.

The Blues continued to press and on 40 Moore was forced to punch when under pressure after the home defence had repeatedly failed to clear following a Pringle freekick deep on the left. Soon after, the keeper claimed from Murphy from a Pringle corner on the right.

The Blues were unable to threaten in one minute of added on time and went in at the break rather harshly 1-0 down.

Town had been on top for much of a not hugely enthralling half, however, without overly testing Cardiff deputy keeper Moore, aside from Sears’s early strike and one or two crosses.

While the Blues hadn’t made enough of their set pieces - they had won six corners as well as a couple of freekicks in dangerous areas - the home side had only really presented any threat from theirs, most notably Whittingham’s corner which led to the goal.

Town switched Bru for Brett Pitman ahead of the start of the second half with Sears moving to right midfield.

Neither side created anything of note until the 56th minute when Bialkowski sent the Blues away on a counter-attack following a Cardiff corner.

Pitman flicked on Hyam’s cross from the right to Pringle, who screwed his shot into the side-netting from a decent position on the left of the area.

Town weren’t too far away from an equaliser in the 59th minute when Sears was allowed to reach a long ball from the left. The striker steered the ball past the advancing Moore, but Scott Malone cleared from inside the six-yard box.

The Blues were starting to look more threatening and a minute later Pitman struck a shot from distance which deflected wide.

Town kept the ball for long spells but without creating a further opening, then on 66 Malone broke away for Cardiff after exchanging passes with Lex Immers and hit a shot which flew not too far over Bialkowski’s crossbar.

Three minutes later, Whittingham curled a low 20-yard freekick to Bialkowski’s right, which the keeper claimed comfortably.

Luke Varney replaced Pringle in the 72nd minute, while Whittingham limped off for the home side and Aron Gunnarsson took over.

Sears, now on the left, saw a shot blocked after he cut into the area after exchanging passes with Jonas Knudsen following a corner then Bialkowski tipped Anthony Pilkington’s looping header over from Joe Ralls’s corner on the right.

From the subsequent flag-kick the former Canary went close again, Tommy Smith perhaps getting a touch on the ball just prior to the Irish international connecting with a volley which flew well into the stand behind the goal.

Moore allowed a Sears freekick from the left to slip through his hands and out of play on 79, then five minutes later Murphy shot over from the right with the Blues still unable to create a clear-cut opening.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles took over from Smith for the final two and a half minutes as the Blues continued to look in vain for the equaliser.

Town continued to push during four minutes of injury time - Sears saw an effort blocked during a goalmouth scramble - but, as for most of the rest of the half, rather unconvincingly and referee Andrew Madley’s whistle confirmed the Blues’ defeat.

Having gone in behind after the first half, Town had a lot of the ball after the break but largely huffed and puffed and were unable find a way through a solid Cardiff defence.

The Blues probably deserved something from the game on the balance of play but created too few clear-cut opportunities, while the home side took their one real chance, which from a Town perspective was very preventable.

The defeat and results elsewhere see the Blues stay eighth but now four points behind Sheffield Wednesday - who won 3-0 at Nottingham Forest - in sixth, although still with a game in hand.

That match is Blackburn’s visit to Portman Road on Tuesday with Rotherham - who came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Derby today - in Suffolk next Saturday.

Cardiff: Moore, Peltier, Connolly, Manga, Malone, Noone, O’Keefe, Ralls, Whittingham (Gunnarsson 73), Pilkington (c) (Dikgacoi 83), Immers. Unused: Wilson, Morrison, Ameobi, Zahore.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith (Maitland-Niles 88), Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Hyam, Bru (Pitman 46), Pringle (Varney 72), Sears, Murphy. Unused: Crowe, Digby, Tabb, Douglas. Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire). Att: 15,175.

Photo: Action Images

superblues9 added 18:12 - Mar 12 YAWN 💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤
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prebsa added 18:13 - Mar 12 Essex57 with 0 view on the game again. Got no one on here who agrees with anything you say. Your -500 marks show that. You are a town follower who knows nothing and can never back up any of your points. You are more of a laughing stock for us other fans who like to debate points with each other right or wrong.
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bluefeast added 18:16 - Mar 12 In Mick we rot , rust and turn to dust. No style ,no guile we are simply pile He picks the squad and gets paid a few bob But all we see is crash hoof and lob Can he change , mix up the fare No bloddy chance he will not dare. Tried and trusted , ancient and old The apathy amongst supporters is where the truth is told. But we are devoted , never to be promoted Every old fence needs to be creasoted Mick Mick your a dick dick .

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gobs93 added 18:19 - Mar 12 Unlucky boys! Sounds like a well contested game between two decent championship teams, just a shame not to get a result. Dig in next game and hopefully we'll get three points. COYB!!!!
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Poultman added 18:19 - Mar 12 Not what I meant when I said I was happy with 3 1-0's ho hum
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H1960 added 18:20 - Mar 12 Bluefesst.......lol Prebsa sorry I pressed the wrong button couldent sgree more
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prebsa added 18:22 - Mar 12 H1960 That's what I keep thinking every time Essex57 marks me down, I know he agrees and loves me deep down!
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kuyski added 18:23 - Mar 12 I don't surprised we lose today,how could we won when there are so many players was not in his best position (Chambers ,Smith,Bru,and Sears),even the history was told us before Skuse and Hyam was not good enough partners in the middle.I doubt MM did you really want to promot Ispwich to PL for only arranged 60% strength in every game.（Found a proper RB is that so difficult for YOU) Conceded never told lied. We deserved more!

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brittaniaman added 18:24 - Mar 12 To think all those hundred of miles this week for one measly point !!!! Yet Preston go to Bolton today and come home with all 3pts ??? and Rotherham who we play next Sat. came back from 3 goals down to draw with Derby,, so Warnock is getting them going just as we are going to play them ??
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PSGBlue added 18:29 - Mar 12 A 1-0 defeat but still in 8th after 30 games, in another world would not be so bad. In a world where we were winning 3-1 or 4-2 but losing 3-2 on occasions, a world where we were at least entertained (like the Royle era). But why on earth, apart from supporting ITFC would anyone watch football at PR, its boring. Dull draws or defeats by the odd goal with hoofball being the name of the game. All this played out on cold Tuesday nights (can't wait for this Tuesday, a 1-1 against Blackburn whilst shivering in 3 Deg C!). Even the pre-match and half time entertainment has gone up the spout, bring back the dancing girls (along with that one bloke). Bring back the race in two plastic bubbles which at least got a cheer! Marcus Evans, the fare on offer is dire, especially for the price of the ticket. Even if we do not get out of this league, we still want to be entertained!

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muccletonjoe added 18:30 - Mar 12 We're doomed we're doomed. Untill the next win anyway
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therein61 added 18:35 - Mar 12 Just pleased this was only a 140 mile round trip for me one of my nearest sole destroying journeys, I'm just waiting for the usual Mick comments on how unlucky we were , all my favourites were great etc etc!!!!! I'm still in Cardiff Mick and if the team bus hasn't left yet can I take Mr Skuse and leave him in Bristol(as long as he stays there!!) on my way back to Bath please, on another note all your favourites are getting on a bit and if you intend to stay at our club then the blinkers have got to come off and a change of direction is urgently required you have done great work in stabilising the club and moving us upwards since you joined, but now seem devoid of a plan on how to take it to the level required, this club deserves that much.

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Cakeman added 18:42 - Mar 12 MicksZzzTactics, great post and I really like the Dinosaur sign. At first glance I thought it was a portrait of a former boss of mine lol
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runaround added 18:47 - Mar 12 Not really a surprise but still a disappointing result compounded by the Sheffield Wednesday result. It makes what happened in the last few seasons at Bolton even tougher to take & potentially more damaging. The 2 home games are must wins to keep us in touch with top 6 hopefully getting likes of Fraser, Bishop & McGoldrick back for the run in. Play offs are still a possibility but no room for error now. Could be a nerve wracking game Tuesday night

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Dissboyitfc added 18:48 - Mar 12 I cant say anything thats not been said b4. This season will end in disappointment. So gutted and to think he has been rewarded with a new contract.
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essex57 added 18:52 - Mar 12 Presba unlike some people on here i dont post comments on the match when i wasnt there i do frame my posts on here to winde people LIKE you up i think i overwelmingly succeed in that.
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smithy0981 added 19:11 - Mar 12 I know I am going to get some stick for saying this but MM has done a great job with no money and u can only go so far with the squad we have. Does anyone feel that Marcus Evans is to blame!? Ok so Keane and Jewell wasted the money they were given but surely ME can see MM has done well is it not time to give him some money to spend! I know the football isn't great or pretty but is that not because we just don't have good enough players. Could MM do getter with money?

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prebsa added 19:17 - Mar 12 Funny thing I was there. Once again can't back anything you say up. I think trying to wind up other town fans is a bit pathetic. Grow up and act your age and actually post something relevant or just leave. Everyone clearly disagrees with you so get over yourself.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 19:42 - Mar 12 When Burley was manager, we played pretty passing football with sometimes 20 or more passes, often ending up no further forward than we'd started. At least it was pretty. With Mick, admittedly constrained by no funds to spend, we have to put up with awful ugly displays where it seems the main aim is to prevent the opponents form playing by sticking a foot in at every opportunity. The games don't flow, they are scrappy a sometimes we have a swift move that gets a result, but never more than a goal difference. However, the results are not coming, we lose as often as we win, and travelling a long way to see such dire displays are thoroughly depressing. This cannot be way forward. Marcus Evans is slowly killing this club, and Mick is just keeping us hanging in there and prolonging the agony.

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essex57 added 19:48 - Mar 12 I realy do think its you that need to get over yourself Prebsa.
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smithy0981 added 19:54 - Mar 12 Fair comment legendofthepheoenix. I agree the football is not pretty at all. Not sure where we go from here but I can't see Evans selling up or getting rid of MM.
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tallguy6767 added 19:57 - Mar 12 One big yawn!! So glad I don't pay to watch such dross anymore! Want the Town to do well for such loyal followers but how much more of this crap can these people take!
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LegendofthePhoenix added 20:01 - Mar 12 Nor can I Smithy, but how the hell did Bournemouth manage it?
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cornishblu added 20:04 - Mar 12 Just looked in the dictionary for the meaning of ..Mick Macarthy style of play.....dull, boring, predictable, one dimensional, uninspiring, tedious, hoofball. Only to be played by yes men who are happy with being played out of position week in week out whilst being told that they are great because there is no one better . Simply another dreadful performance ...only Bart and Freddie actually looked like they were 1/2 interested in the game. I have said previously that I don't like having a pop at our captain but he was inexplicably poor today....doesn't inspire his team , happy to flick balks into empty space with no purpose , pulled constantly out of position and always late to return to his position when actually able to....he cannot keep the facade up of enjoying playing as RB ...he needs to get back to playing CB. Mick this team is sadly going nowhere ...the lack of supporters clapping at the end of the game and the fact that you didn't acknowledge the fans at the end of the game speaks volumes about current performances ....sort it out ..I love my club but absolutely hate what's happening to it

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LegendofthePhoenix added 20:04 - Mar 12 And what were the two shots "on target", I'll be damned if I saw a single shoot on target.
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